Archived: High Hurlands Community Homes

Updated 20 September 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 09 August 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we had about the service, this included previous inspection reports and notifications the provider sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we spoke with four care staff, the training manager, an external professional and the registered manager. Following the inspection we spoke with four relatives and received written feedback from two professionals. Not everyone was able to fully share with us their experiences of life at the service, therefore we spent time observing people receiving care and support from staff in communal areas.

We reviewed records which included eight people's care plans, five staff recruitment and supervision records, the provider's policies and procedures, incident reports, staff training records, staff rotas and quality assurance processes and procedures.

Updated 20 September 2018

The inspection took place on 09 August 2018 and was unannounced which meant the staff and provider did not know we would be visiting.

High Hurlands Community Homes is a collection of five individual cottages providing accommodation and support for 15 people with a learning disability, some of whom also have physical disabilities, in a small village set in the countryside on the outskirts of Liphook in Hampshire. High Hurlands Community Homes are set in the grounds of High Hurlands Nursing Home which is a separate service operated by the same provider. The people living at the Community Homes had access to the facilities available at the nursing home, which included a sensory room, a hydro pool and specialist activity rooms.

At this inspection we found that evidence continued to support the overall rating of good, and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Policies, procedures and staff training were in place to protect people from avoidable harm and abuse. Staff had identified risks to people and these were managed safely. Recruitment processes were followed to ensure suitable staffing levels and the provider had thorough pre-employment checks in place to ensure staff were suitable to support people with a learning disability. Arrangements were in place to receive, record, store and administer medicines safely and securely.

People were cared for by staff who had received comprehensive training, support and supervision in their role. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. People were supported to eat and drink sufficiently for their needs. Staff supported people to see a range of healthcare professionals in order to maintain good health and wellbeing.

Staff treated people with kindness and compassion. Staff supported people to make choices about their lives. Staff treated people with respect and upheld their dignity and human rights when delivering their care.

People had a comprehensive assessment of their support needs and guidelines were produced for staff about how to meet their individual needs and preferences. Support plans were reviewed with people and their families and relevant changes made where needed. Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible. Activities that were appropriate to each person were offered and encouraged. Processes were in place to enable people to make complaints and these were responded to appropriately.

The provider had effective governance processes in place. People, their families, staff and professionals were encouraged to be actively involved in the development and continuous improvement of the home. The provider had robust quality assurance systems which operated across all levels of the service. Staff had worked effectively in partnership with other agencies such as social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, GP's, and pharmacies to promote positive outcomes for people.

The service was last inspected in May 2016 where one breach of regulations was found.